This year, OIS is providing a free online software called CINTAX to assist USC non-residents with their federal tax forms. It can be accessed through the link below and will assist you with both filling-out the correct federal forms applicable to you (such as the 1040NR/1040NR-EZ and 8843 forms) and generating them.
If you do not have a Social Security Number, CINTAX will assist you with filling out a request for an ITIN Tax ID number through form W-7. Once you have completed all steps in CINTAX, you will print your forms to sign and mail to the address provided by CINTAX. We strongly encourage you to make copies of all forms and supporting documents and to mail the originals with a tracking number to document receipt.
Please make sure to have all your information forms (W-2, 1042-S, 1099, etc.) before you fill out your tax forms in CINTAX and mail them. Once your tax forms have been received by the U.S. Government, it is extremely difficult to file an amended return and CINTAX or OIS would not be able to assist you with this.
Go to CINTAX
Tax Treaties:
Some countries are eligible for varying amounts of income exemption from taxation under tax treaties between their home government and the United States. IRS Publication 901 lists current U.S. tax treaties. If you were paid through USC and entered into the USC non-national payroll system (GLACIER) in a timely manner, these treaties should have been applied to your status.
CINTAX will assist you in claiming a tax treaty if you are eligible as you complete your federal forms 1040NR or 1040NR-EZ even if form 8233 was not filed with the U.S. government in the applicable tax year. If you need to set up a tax treaty withholding exemption with an employer other than USC, they would use IRS form 8233. Please note that tax treaties only pertain to federal and not state or local taxes.